Anil Kapoor’s international dreams with Sanjay Dutt

Something is brewing between arch-enemies-turned-jaani-friends Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor. And it isn't just Anees Bazmee's comedy No Problem that Anil is producing and Sanjay will star in.

It's a far bigger hush-hush project that Anil plans to produce featuring the two actors. "Anil Kapoor wanted to meet Sanjay Dutt for a long time. But both of them seemed to be too tied up,” said a source. “Finally, on Thursday, Anil said he wanted to come over to discuss a very serious matter. Sanjay insisted that he would go over to Anil Kapoor's home since he hadn't visited him for a long time."

According to sources, Dutt spent a good hour at the Kapoors' residence. He convinced Dutt that an international project featuring the two actors was just what the global market demanded.

Says the source, "Anil seems convinced that after Slumdog Millionaire, the west was ready for much more of India. During their conversation, he also said Dutt and Kapoor were the only two stars who could come together to give the international market a run for its money."

An international project featuring the two veteran actors is not all that Anil Kapoor had in mind. Says the source, "Anil also formally wanted to sign Sanjay for his home production No Problem. He gave Sanjay a signing amount of Rs 1 crore which Sanjay refused to take saying he can never accept money from a dear friend. But Anil insisted. He said, 'I let you get away with working free for me when you did the item song in my production Short Cut. But now you're a full-fledged actor in No Problem. Let's be professional about money matters at least.'

The Kapoor-Dutt international project could happen by the end of this year. Danny Boyle, who directed Kapoor in Slumdog Millionaire, could be roped in to direct.

Says the source, "Danny Boyle's name was mentioned. He could direct the two stars. together."

And there ends one of the longest-lasting feuds in filmdom. Many years ago, Anil Kapoor had apparently made some remarks about Dutt's family that Dutt hadn't liked and had sworn never to see Kapoor's face, let alone work with him.